I paid $13,500 CDN (equal to between $8,370 and $10,125 US in first ½ of 2003) for the car at a local used car dealership. Mileage was 56,600km (35,200mi) and condition was like new. The car needed some minor work done. The price we paid was high, which took into account the unusually low mileage and great condition. You should not spend as much as I did on one of these cars; low mileage, as a general rule, does not have as much of an affect on this particular model of car’s reliability as it would most other cars. Make sure to get these cars inspected before purchasing too; these cars are often be found to have nastily expensive problems, and many have been in accidents. I would recommend having a mechanic who is very familiar with these cars test it out before purchasing; an expert’s diagnostics are far better and he/she knows what to look for.

I personally love the car’s style. I love the front end with the round headlights and the classic BMW grille. I love the interior dash layout and appearance. I am not a huge fan of the rear end styling, but still, I love the appearance all-round. With this particular car, the 2 doors are (I believe, but am not sure) worth more than 4 doors, an in my opinion, look sportier. “Basket” style alloy wheels are sought after and worth more than the more common “bottle cap” style alloy wheels. Be aware though that the hubs for the basket wheels are easily and often stolen and cost 100$ a pop. If the car has basket wheels, check to see if the hubs are gone.

The car has the 2.5-liter 168 hp inline-6 engine. The engine makes a beautiful sound at high revs, and has enough power to move a car that size effortlessly. I would recommend the 2.5-liter engine over the 1.9 liter 4 cylinder, especially and strongly to anyone who has to do a lot of highway driving, or anyone who is looking for an automatic. The car, though it looks like an entry level compact in size, glides on the highway with great handling, ride, and stability. In the city, the car is small, maneuverable and spunky with the 2.5-liter or the manual (or both), and delivers, again, a great ride and great handling. If you plan to buy the car and plan to do most of the driving in the city, the 1.9 liter 4 pot has better fuel economy and is a good choice, but will have to work hard on the highway, which will eventually lead to more engine wear, poor economy, and possible problems with the engine. If you buy one and are used to driving front wheel drive cars, be careful when accelerating around corners; this rear wheel drive car will easily swing its back end out if the driver is to hard on the gas around corners. I would recommend the manual, but even with the automatic (2.5 liter), the car is still fun to drive

Interiors are comfortable, but a little cramped in the back. These cars, especially the later ones, tend to have a lot of electronic gizmos, so check that they all work. Getting these fixed is expensive, and not being able to use some of these features can be a pain. The car does not have any cup holders, as the Germans don’t eat or drink in their cars. This is both a blessing and a pain, as it prevents drink from getting in the front seat thereby ending up on the upholstery and carpet, but can be very annoying if you plan to drink in the car anyway (You can order cupholders for the car from Bavarian autosport @ www.bavauto.com). Check the upholstery for rips or cracks in the leather, as there are expensive to fix. Unless you don’t mind spending tons of money that you will not get back in resale, you will have to live with most problems in the interior.

These cars are solidly built and superbly engineered, but the minor problems are usually fairly expensive to repair. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants something a little more fun than a used Camry or Accord, but who doesn’t mind paying a little extra to maintain a car. Get one in good condition (with no accidents), and make sure that a mechanic looks at it before you buy. I love the way the car looks, feels, drives, performs and inspires jealous looks. This car is a future classic.

1 year update - So far the repair bills have been maybe 10$ for some bulbs and 30$ for a power window switch. When I bought it, the car needed a few things done, but has had no problems since. Not bad for a 14 year old car. The car now has 70,500km (43,850mi). I have to raise my reliabillity rating, but keep in mind the unusually low mileage of my specific car.

I have since bought a Blaupunkt stereo (poor), a performance chip from Dinan which gives the car 177hp and more low-end torque (good), and a Viper security system (okay). The Dinan chip costs about 170$ US and gives a significant torque boost, but fuel economy drops noticeably. I found a good place to shop for accessories is www.bavauto.com. Check it out if you own any bimmer.
Amount Paid (US$): 9000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1990
Model and Options: 325i 4door Automatic